Philippians 2:12, 13 Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence… Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is worthy of note that this, of all the Epistles of Paul, is the only one that contains no direct rebuke. The apostle here speaks of them as "having always obeyed," not only in his presence, but in his absence. The passage leads us to contemplate salvation as a work in the soul. The word "salvation" implies a previous lost condition. The soul is lost; but in what sense? Not in the sense of missing, as the piece of silver was lost, the sheep was lost, the prodigal son lost; God knows where every soul is. Not in the sense of destruction, as the tree or house is lost when burnt to ashes; but in the sense in which a worthless child is lost to his parents, a worthless soldier to an army, a worthless citizen to his country. All souls are lost to God in this sense - they fulfill not their mission, which is (1) truthfully to reveal, (2) loyally to obey, and (3) religiously to serve him. I offer three remarks on this subject. I. SALVATION IS A SUPREME WORK IS MAN. The apostle urges it here as supreme: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence," etc. As if he had said, "Mind, attend to this, wherever I am, in whatever condition, whether I am living or dying, do not neglect your salvation." This is the supreme work. If the soul is not restored to the knowledge and image of the true God, what matters it what else a man may possess? "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" II. SALVATION IS A DIVINE WORK IS MAN. "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." 1. He works in you. He works everywhere outside of you. He is the force of all forces, the Spirit in all the wheels of nature; but in the soul he has a higher sphere. As outside in unreasoning nature he works in harmony with the laws which he has established, so in the soul he works according to its laws of thought and volition. 2. He works in you for your salvation. Not for your destruction; destruction would require no work on his part, a mere volition would extinguish you for ever, but he works to save you - works as the physician works to save his patient, as the lifeboat works to save the sinking bark. 3. He works in you for your salvation "according to his good pleasure. It is not his will that you should perish; the desire of his great fatherly heart is that you should be saved. Hence he works in you, works silently, constantly, and in connection with all the influences of nature, events of history, and the laws of your own being. III. SALVATION IS A HUMAN WORK IN MAN. 1. It is a work which the man must do for himself. Work out your own salvation." No one can do the work for you; no one can believe, repent, and love for you; the work is absolutely personal. 2. Man's encouragement to this work is the co-operation of God. "God worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." His agency, instead of superseding the necessity of yours, should stimulate yours. If he did not work with you, your efforts would be futile; if against you, your efforts would be baffled and confounded. But your salvation is his "good pleasure." He works with you as he works with the industrious agriculturist; he supplies all the necessary conditions for success in the production of golden crops. He works with you as he works with the genuine truth-seeker, touches the springs of thought and stimulates by ever-opening prospects. CONCLUSION. Never let us forget that our supreme work is spiritual salvation, that all other works should be made subservient to this. - D.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. |
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